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Borders and InsertionsBorders and Insertions can take a ho-hum article and make it look better. They can take a nice item and make it spectacular! It is often said that it's the details that count. By taking time to learn and use the information that follows, you will no longer be making "home made" pieces, you will be making DESIGNER pieces. ILLUSTRATIONS 118 & 119 (Narrow Borders).--It will be easy to work these borders from the above instructions. Observe only that on border 118 the outer row of scallops is worked first, then the button-hole stitch row, and the rest afterwards. The spots are edged all round in knotted stitch. The wheels in the centre of the eyelets of No. 119 are worked with very fine cotton in loose button-hole stitch; they are wound round with the cotton in a second row.
ILLUSTRATIONS 120 TO 122.--Three strips of insertion, which are worked nearly like the ladder stitch. For No. 120, in tracing the outlines, make two small knots at short distances by winding the cotton four times round the needle, as can be seen in illustration; the windings are held down with the thumb of the left hand, draw the needle through, and a knot is formed. The outlines are worked in button-hole stitch only when all the knots have been made, and then the material is cut away underneath. Illustration 121 is a variety of the slanting ladder stitch. Illustration 122.--The cross threads are worked in two rows in the common herring-bone stitch, as can be seen by the black lines on the illustration. The straight lines at the top and at the bottom are worked in double overcast; lastly, the wheels are worked in a row as described for the star pattern, No. 104.
Care must be taken when producing borders and insertions. They are often what draws the eye to the item. If done carelessly, flaws will be seen quickly.
Borders and insertions pieces can be time consuming projects but, if time and patience are used, the end result will be worth it. More border and insertion stitches and techniques will be added as they are found. If you have any illustrations of borders and/or insertions that were used during the Victorian era, and you would like to share, please contact me to make arrangements for inclusion on this website. I, of course, retain the right to accept or reject anything I feel is not appropriate for this site. Your name will be attached to the submission, if you like.
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